Tate George cries on the stand, deflects blame for money losses

TRENTON — Basketball great Tate George expects “pretty big” bucks from the NCAA for his lawsuit alleging an image of him shooting “The Shot” was used to promote U.S. college sports without his permission.

George testified Wednesday in federal court that he also intends to sue two investors who accused him of stealing their money, leading to his arrest, once his trial is over.

The retired pro basketball player also broke down on the stand when he spoke about his mentor, friend and financial backer, former Bayonne doctor and retired Florida millionaire Howard Tractenberg.

“He was a guy who … I wanted to make proud,” George said, breaking into tears in mid sentence. The defendant said the retired doctor, now in his 80s and ailing, took him under his wing to teach him the real estate business and fund some George projects in Florida and New Jersey.

Advertisement

On trial for allegedly running a scam that netted him $2 million, George also testified that he’ll eventually repay all debts he’s responsible for. But he did not specifically say the money would come from the lawsuit, which is pending in U.S. court in California.

George testified that the East Orange deal he got investors to fund fell through over a minor zoning issue. A project in Illinois caved in over a similar issue.

When he lost the contract to develop the East Orange property, he was “de-designated” as the developer of a project in Bridgeport, Conn., he said.

George also cried as he told of the feds seizing his car on arresting him in 2011, forcing him to move into a house in Newark and use rental cars to get around.

He also pointed to others as the cause of his problems. A volunteer in his office sent key correspondence to investor Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons to Rochester, Minn., not his home in Rochester, Mich.

George also testified that he was hurt by another prospective developer, Michael Chudi, a native of Nigeria who is now believed hiding out in his African nation.

Over the objection of the prosecution, which questioned its relevance, U.S. Judge Mary L. Cooper let George and his lawyer, federal Public Defender David Schafer, bring out the lawsuit against the NCAA.

Famed since the game-winning shot from the corner he took for UConn in the NCAA tournament in 1990, George said the national collegiate sports organization used his images without his permission or compensation.

He was supposed to be the lead plaintiff in the case, but the lawyers pressing the case for George and eight other players decided against that and put retired basketball legend Oscar Robertson out front instead.